Need a FAQ on solar please

[macbeth]

I've tried to search through the plethora of threads but always end up getting more confused than is necessary.
Don't laugh...help a brother out.
Can someone point me to a definitive thread that explains to the layman what you need for solar.
ie. to just combat loadshedding you need xxxx and xxxx
and to power your lights only you need xxx and xxx
and to power your home (heavy appliances excluded of course) xxxx

that sort of thing. It would make it a lot easier for us greenhorns to get into the debate.
thanks in advance

 

[The_Traveller]

To tackle loadshedding all you need is an inverter and batteries.
The inverter size is dependant on the appliances you want to load and the batteries is determined by how many hours of backup time you'd want to power up that load.

I always suggest working on peak power (meaning where you will have ALL your chose appliances on for that full hour) so that you not cutting yourself short. It will be the exact opposite.

With Solar, there are a few different ways you can approach this but imo it's only really worth it if you can feed back to the council and to charge your batteries when need be.

 

[Nokkie]

I've tried to search through the plethora of threads but always end up getting more confused than is necessary.
Don't laugh...help a brother out.
Can someone point me to a definitive thread that explains to the layman what you need for solar.
ie. to just combat loadshedding you need xxxx and xxxx
and to power your lights only you need xxx and xxx
and to power your home (heavy appliances excluded of course) xxxx

that sort of thing. It would make it a lot easier for us greenhorns to get into the debate.
thanks in advance

There is a nice article about solar and how to buy in the Fin week magazine, early June's edition was about
how to deal with eskom's loadshedding

 

[alanB]

Here is a number of articles which may help you.

http://offgriddiy.co.za/blog/

Also try

http://powersaving.co.za/alternative-power/

 

[mmacleod]

Part of the problem I think is that there is no definitive answer.

If all you want to do is tackle load shedding then the bare minimum is an inverter/charger/batteries - however that already opens up thousands of questions like which batteries etc.
Also with the price of batteries being so high and load shedding in the day there is a point where its better to have smaller batteries and a few panels to go with it, depending on how much it is you need to power, and/or once you've one to that expense its often worthwhile to spend a little bit more for a system that will also save money long term.

I don't think there is really a 'one size fits all' here, the guy who just wants to watch TV is always going to be different from the guy who is running a home office and needs to keep 20 computers powered

 

[fruitbat]

Part of the problem I think is that there is no definitive answer.

If all you want to do is tackle load shedding then the bare minimum is an inverter/charger/batteries - however that already opens up thousands of questions like which batteries etc.
Also with the price of batteries being so high and load shedding in the day there is a point where its better to have smaller batteries and a few panels to go with it, depending on how much it is you need to power, and/or once you've one to that expense its often worthwhile to spend a little bit more for a system that will also save money long term.

I don't think there is really a 'one size fits all' here, the guy who just wants to watch TV is always going to be different from the guy who is running a home office and needs to keep 20 computers powered

I know what you mean..

I have a solution that will power my TV / Media Server / router and 4 lights for load shedding... and if it runs for 2 years im ok with that as im sure technology will improive and hopefully get cheaper

But - i thought last night, what about attaching solar to something like this to charge it and remove the eskom cost... but i haven't have the time to research it. So hopefully this thread can help

I have spoken to various people before and it seems that every1 is an expert with a different opinion and it confused the crap out of me... so i left it :-(

 

[mmacleod]

I know what you mean..
I have spoken to various people before and it seems that every1 is an expert with a different opinion and it confused the crap out of me... so i left it :-(

Yeah, between all the noise and the people looking to make quick money off you it is hard to figure out what is best for your own personal circumstances

 

[The_Traveller]

I know what you mean..

I have a solution that will power my TV / Media Server / router and 4 lights for load shedding... and if it runs for 2 years im ok with that as im sure technology will improive and hopefully get cheaper

But - i thought last night, what about attaching solar to something like this to charge it and remove the eskom cost... but i haven't have the time to research it. So hopefully this thread can help

I have spoken to various people before and it seems that every1 is an expert with a different opinion and it confused the crap out of me... so i left it :-(

The items you want on solar are probably maximum 300w. So you want to spend how much to save so little money ?

 

[fruitbat]

The items you want on solar are probably maximum 300w. So you want to spend how much to save so little money ?

Yea its 260w total...
And - the wording i used was wrong.... the cost element is small.. i should have said it differently....

EDIT: Sorry im hijacking this thread... ignore me